Will Absentee Votes Without Enough Postage Count?

Many Mainers have opted to mail in an absentee ballot because of COVID-19, but what if you haven't included enough postage? You might think that's a strange question, but according to WGME, some absentee ballots require more than one stamp.

I assumed that absentee ballots would only need one stamp, but you know what happens when you assume. It turns out that if a municipality has their own ballots to include, it could weigh more. If a voter isn't registered to a party and they aren't receiving a primary ballot, it could weigh less. It totally makes sense. There is no standard message about the amount of postage needed that the state can include on ballots, because it varies between municipalities and voters individually.

The City of Portland did send out notices recommending that voters use two stamps when mailing out absentee ballots. But what if you didn't? Will your vote still count? According to WGME it will; but someone will end up paying the extra postage. The U.S. Postal Service will collect the balance from the Board of Elections in states that have them. Maine does not have a Board of Elections so the municipality ends up paying the tab.

Your absentee vote will count even if you forget postage all together. The ship has sailed on mailing in absentee ballots, but you can still fill one out on election day in the presence of a clerk at your City or Town Hall. Bring proof of residency or a state I.D. and 17-year-olds can vote in the primary if they will be 18 at the time of the General Election.